Festive Homestyle Cranberried Meatballs
First Place: D.M. Ryan, Topsfield, MA

This recipe will be a welcomed addition to your holiday appetizer table. A zesty cranberry sauce pot of meatballs easy to munch on while waiting for the main course. Meatballs are a true comfort food and these fit the day very well.

1 1 /4 cup fresh cranberries, cleaned
16 ounces can, jellied or whole cranberry sauce
12 ounces chili sauce
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
4 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon freshly grated orange rind
1 (25.6 oz) package Mama Lucia Homestyle Meatballs, thawed

To make sauce:
Simmer in a saucepan, combine cranberries, cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and orange together in a large saucepan about 10 minutes until blended . Pour hot sauce over meatballs in a slow cooker. Cook 2-6 hours while turkey is roasting on low. Serve as an appetizer tapas style with a bit of dipping sauce. Yummy!

Rice Dressing (Cajun Dirty Rice)
Second Place: Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, TX

4 cups cooked long grain white rice
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 cup chopped green onion
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 cup chicken stock
1 package (12 ounce) Mama Lucia Homestyle Meatballs, thawed & chopped into small pieces

Place rice in a large mixing bowl. Heat oil in a large saute pan. Cook onions until tender. Add garlic, green onions, salt, black pepper, red pepper, chicken stock and chopped meatballs. Continue cooking 10 minutes until all ingredients and flavored have combined. Mix meatball mixture with rice. Place in a baking dish and bake, covered, at 350 degrees until rice has heated through, about 20 minutes. Serves 6.

Mama's Cranberry Pumpkin
Spiced Meatballs
Third Place: Merry Graham, Newhall, CA

2 (11.2 ounce) packages Mama Lucia Sausage Meatballs
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 (28 ounce) can green enchilada sauce
1 cup beef or chicken broth
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ancho chile powder or chili powder (optional to taste)
½ cup dried cranberries
1 cup chopped onion
Salt to taste
2 Tablespoons lime juice
½ cup chopped basil

In a 4-6 quart crock-pot, stir all ingredients except limejuice and basil. Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour; turn to low heat until serving time or up until 4 hours. Right before serving, stir in limejuice and basil. Yum, a new Thanksgiving favorite! Serves 10-16.

Mama Lucia Meatballs are available in the frozen meat department of local grocery stores.